Machine for double-seaming can ends to can bodies



June 10', 1930. J C YLE 1,763,458

MACHINE FOR DOUBLE SEAMI NG CAN ENDS TO CAN BODIES Filed March 15, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 10, 1930. J. CQYLE 5 1,763,458

MACHINE FOR DOUBLE vSEAMING CAN ENDS TO CAN BODIES Filed March 15,1928 -11 Sheets- Sheet 2 June 10, 1,930. 1,763,458

MACHINE "FOR DOUBLE'SEAMING cm ENDS TOGAN BODIES Jl COYLE File'dflarch- 15, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 10, 1930; J. CQYLE MACHINE FOR DOUBLE SEAMING CAN ENDS TO cANBoD IEs,

Filed March 15. 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 10, 1930. co 1,763,458

MACHINE FOR DOUBLE SQEAMING CAN ENDS TO CAN BODIES Filed March 1.5.1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 5' J. COYLE June 10, 1930.

MACHINE FOR DOUBLE SEAMING GAN ENDS T0 CAN BODIES 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 15 1928 June 10, 1930. q, O E 1,763,458

MACHINE FOR DOUBLE SEAMING CAN ENDS TO CAN BODIES Filed Mar n 15, 1928 1 11 Sheets-Sheet June 10, 1930. Y Q E 1,763,458

- MACHINEQFOR DOUBLE SEAMING QANIENDS T0 CANBODIES Filed Marh 15, 1928. ll Sheets-Sheet 8 June 10, 1930; J. COYLE 1,763,458v

v MACHINE FQR DOUBLE SEAMING' CAN ENDS T0 CAN BODIES Fi led March 15', 1928. 11 Sheets- Shet 9 June 10, 1930. J. COYLE 1,763,458

MACHINE FOR DOUBLE SEAMING CAN ENDS TO CAN BODIES Filed March 15, 192B 11 Sheets-Sheet l0 i v v June 10, 1930. J co 1,763,458

MACHINE FOR DOUBLE'SEAMING CAN ENDS TO CAN BODIES Filed March 15, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet l1 file? l 4% b ,Zf

HS-1. g .w gl% 4L6 A Lib? Y- hff l] mun II will wru 5 4 3 i.- il i w 17 46 1: I l Z Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN 00mm, or BALTIMORE, mums, ASSIlZGNOR 'ro CONTINENTAL' can con rm, me, on NEW YORK, N.- Y., A conrom'rron or NEW YORK Application filed lliarch 15, 1928. Serial No. 261,827.

for directing the same into the curved path of travel of the seaming. units, with means for placing a can end on the canbody while it is traveling in a straight path of travel, and for positively and firmly seating the end in the can body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type wherein meansis provided for holding the can end seated in the can body during its travel from the seating means to the seaming unit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type with means whereby the can end asit is placed on the can body and seated therein is caused to travel in the same straight line path of travel as the can body. j

-A still further object ofthe invention is to provide means for rounding up the can body during its straight path of travel and during the seating of thecan end therein;

A still further object. of the invention is to provide a double seaming machine of the above type including an upper and lower rotating turret, wherein the upper turret is mounted for rotation in an upper frame supported on columns arranged outside of the turret and positive driving means is also provided outside of the turrets for rotating both turrets.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a. machine of the. above type wherein. the upper rotating turret'is sup ported by a central fixed standard which is adaptedto be adjusted for properly positioning' the upper turret for operation upon the can which is to be closed.

A- still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type,

'wherein each seaming unit includes a first and second operation seaming roll, both of wh ch are carried by an oscillating lever which is swung in one direction by an operating cam for performing the first seaming operation, and in the opposite direction by another operating cam for performing the second seaming operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type, whereln'the cam for oscillating the lever to form the second seaming operation is yieldingly mounted so as to permit the seaming roll to pass over the side seam of the can.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and-will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the inven- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a machine in aplane containing the axis of the main actuating shaft;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. v1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail-in section of the vertical actuating shaft for the chucks and the rotatmg turrets;

Fig. 5 is a detail in means for the chucks;

Fig. 6 is a view. partly in in section on the line 6-6of Fig. 7 is a sectional of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a view partly 'in section and partlv in plan of the upper turret, the view being taken from beneath the turret looking upward;

Fig. 11.is a sectional view showing the means for releasing the can;

12 is a view partly in section for releasing the can support between the first and second operations;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view through the can support; A

plan of the driving plan and partly Fig. 1; view on the line T7 of Fig. 6, showing the lower portion of the upper turret, certain of the parts being omitted;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line Pi -14 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 15 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation, showing the seaming roll and the means for supporting and operating the same;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view on the line 17 -17 of Fig. 15, and

Fig. 18 is a view on the line 18-18 of Fig. 15.

The invention is directed broadly to a machine for double seaming a can end to a can body and includes a supporting base forming a lower frame for the machlne on which columns are mounted, and on these columns is supported an upper frame. Mounted on the lower frame is a lower rotating turret carrying the traveling supports for the can bodies to which the can ends are to be at-' tached. -Mounted on the upper frame is they upper rotating turret which carries the seamin units. There are a plurality of seaming units, and each unit includes a chuckwhich is positively rotated for engaging the can end and rotating the can end and can ,body and seaming rolls for joining the end to the can body. There are first and second operation seaming rolls in each unit, and these seaming rolls are carried by an oscillating lever which is moved in one direction by an operating cam during the bodily travel of the turret for forming the first seaming operation, and then in the other direction by a cam during the rotation of the turret for forming the second seaming operation. The cam which oscillates the lever for forming the second operation is yieldingly mounted so as to permit the seaming roll to pass over the side seam of the can body. The seaming rolls are adjustablyfimoujnted on the oscillating lever therefor. The support for the can body is raised and lowered by a cam which has a section which maybe depressed when the support for the can is directly above the same. This depressible portion of the camis so disposed that the machine may be stopped with the support directly above the depressible portion between the first and second operations, and the can removed for inspection. The upper turret is supported in the upper frame by a central stationary standard. This standard 'may be raised and lowered, and'thus the turret positioned for proper operation upon the canto be closed. The upperframe is adjustably attached to the supporting column so that the upper frame may be raised or lowered. The turrets are rotated by a vertical shaft which .has a gear connection with each turret. The can bodies are delivered to the seaming machine by a feeding-in mechanism which feeds'the can in a straight line path of travel to a rotating turret which transfers the can by a curved path of travel to the seaming units. The seaming units travel in a curved path.

The can ends are delivered one at a time from v end seated during its curved path of travel by a transfer turret, and thus it is that the can end is held seated until it is engaged by the chuck of theseaming unit. 7

Referring more in detail to the drawings,

the double seaming machine includes a supporting base 1 on which is mounted the lower frame 2. This lower frame 2 is provided with a series of columns 3. As shown in Fig. 6, there are four columns, and these columns sup ort at their upper ends, the upper frame 4 o the machine. Each column includes a central fixed portion 5 which rests on'the low,- er frame, and the columns are held to the frame by means of nuts 6 which are threaded on to the ends of each column; U-shaped blocks or shims 7 may be placed between the fixed portion 5 and'the upper frame for setting the upper frame at different levels.

' Mounted on the upper frame is an auxiliary frame unit 8 which is provided with suitable bearings for a main actuating shaft 9. I

This main actuating shaft 9is driven from a suitable source of power, which, as illustrated, includes a driving pulley 10. The driv ing pulley10 is connected to the main actuating shaft bymeansof a-dry'disk clutch 11. Mounted on this main actuating shaft 9 is a bevel gear-12 which meshes with a bevel gear 13 carried by a 'short' vertical shaft 14. Lo-

cated in the lower frame 2.is a 'lowerrotatin'g turret 15. This rotating-turret 15 rests on ball bearings 16, and said turret is provided is shown in detail in Fig. 13. This can support includes an upper piston member 18 prowith a series of can supports 17, one of which L vided with suitable packing rings 19 and this I upper piston member 18 carries a can support bearings 21 so that it may rotate freely. Itis ,120 20. This can support is mounted on ball spring 22. This can support 17 is mounted I on the lower turret so that it is free to be' moved up and down. It travels with the turret, but the main portion of the support does not rotate with the turret. The supporting part 20 does, however, rotate with the can. The support 17 is raised and lowered 3 by means of a roller 23 which cooperates with a cam 24 shown in detail in Fig. 1. Extend ing up through this lower turret is a standard or stationar shaft 25; This standard is threaded at its lower end, and the threaded portion of the standard engages a threaded sleeve 26. The threaded sleeve 26is suitably ,supported inv the lower frame so that it may be rotated by means of a hand-o rated wheel 27'. The standard 25 is held rom rotation by means of an arm 28 which is connected to a lug'29' attached to the supporting base of the machine. This standard 25' carries an upper rotating turret 30. The upper rotating turret is mounted in the upper frame, so that it freely rotates therein. The upper turret, however, is supported on the ball bearing 31 which is carried by this standard 25. By turning the hand wheel 27, the standard 25 may he raised or lowered, and this will raise or lower the upper turret relative to the lower turret. This permits of a limited adjustment to bring about the properpositioning of the upperturret relative to the lower turret. It also permits of a much greater adjustment when the upper frame is adjusted relative to the lower frame so that the machine may be properly set for operating upon different size cans. Mounted on this upper turret is a series of seaming units. As shown in the drawings, there are four seaming units. Each seaming unit includes a spindle 32 carrying a chuck 33. This chuck is located directl above the can support 20, and in axial alinement'therewith. The can with the end seated therein is placed on the support and the support 1s raised as the turrets travel, so as to lift the end into engagement with the chuck 33, and this completes the chucking operation of the can end and can body. The spindle 32 carryin the chuck is positively rotated, and this W111 rotate the can end and can body. This rotation of the spindle 32 is accomplished by means of gears 34. There is a gear on each spindle, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. These gears 34 mesh with a geari35 formed as a part. of the vertical shaft 14. The shaft 14, as above noted, is rotated by the main actuating shaft, and this, through the gears described, imparts a positive rotation to each chuck, which in turnrotates the can body and seated can end therein.

Each seaming unit also includes a first o1 eration seaming roll 36, and 'asecond operation seaming roll 37 The first operation seaming roll is provided with .a scathing groove 38 which is of the usual construction, andthe second operation seaming roll is provided with a groove 39 which is likewise of the usual construction. These seaming rolls are each mounted on a supporting sleeve 40 and are held thereon by a face plate 41 carried by a threaded stem 42. The sleeve 40 is provided with an eccentric port1on43. The eccentric portion 43 of the sleeve is in turn mounted in a supporting plate 4-4. The means for supporting and mounting the first'and second operation rolls are similar, and the eccentric portions of the sleeves carrying the seaming rolls are mounted at the opposite ends of this supporting plate 44. The supporting plate 44 is carried by a rock lever 45. The rock lever is rigidly attached to a supporting shaft 46 mounted in suitable hearings in the upperturret, so that the shaft 46 may oscillate freely. The supporting plate 44 has a keyed connection to this rock lever 45 and is held attached thereto by a bolt 47. The

seaming rolls in each unit are so disposed that one seaming roll is atone side of the axis of the shaft- 46, while the other seaming roll is at the other side thereof. The shaft 46 is located in the turret radially a greater distance from the center of rotation of'the turret than the chuck spindle, so that the seaming rolls in their path of travel, are wholly outside of the path of travel of the, center of the chuck. This is quite an important feature, as it enables the chucks to be placed very close to the center of rotation of the turret, and this enables the/centers of the chucks circumferentially to be placed comrelatively small radius. Two objects are accomplished by this positioning of the seaming rolls relative to the chucks, and shortening the space between the chucks and reducing the radius of the path of travel of the chucks. First, the space between the cans is reduced to a minimum and the speed of travel of the can is also reduced to a minimum. This is of' particular advantage in a machine for closingfilled cans where it is desired to avoid all possible spill of the contents of the can. By placingthe cans close together, very much less acceleration is required in order to place the cans properly for the seaming operations. The lever 45 which carries the seaming rolls is oscillated first in one direction and then the other. The lever is moved in one direction by means of a roller 48. This roller 48 cooperates with a cam 49 (see Fig. 10). Theturret rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 10. The cam 49 is pivoted at 50,

carried by the cam 49 (see Fig. 14). The head 52 of the rod bears against a block 54 which in turn bears against an elastic pad 55. The elastic pad rest-s against a block 56 which is threaded on to the end of a sleeve 57. The rod passes through this sleeve, and nuts58 on the end of the rod, provide for a slight adjustment of the block 54, compressing the elastic or rubber pad 55. The sleeve 57 is threaded into a cap plate 59, and this permits of the adjustment of the rod 51 to the center standard may be made comparavary the tightness of the seam. This cam 49 tively small, as its sole purpose is to support oscillates the lever carrying the seaming rolls the upper turret. By making this standard so as to cause the second operation roll to small, the chuck centers may be thus further engage the can end and form a second seammoved in toward the center of rotation of the ing operation thereon. The cam yields to turrets. v

allow'the roll to pass over the side seam of The machine as shown, is particularly the can. A limiting stop 60 is provided which adapted for closing filled cans. The cans limits the movement of the cam when the roll are delivered to the machine by a feeding-in passes off from the same. The lever is swung mechanism, which includes, as illustrated, a

in the opposite direction by a roller 61 which support 79 with which is associated a feed cooperates with a stationary cam 62 secured drum 80 having a thread81 thereon. Alongto the upper frame. The swinging of the side of the support is a guiding rail, and the lever begins when the roller 61 reaches a point filled cans are fed one after another, along A on the cam 62. The seaming roll is gradthis support and guiding rail in a straight ually forced into contact with the can end, line path of travel. The cans are delivered and the first seaming operation performed. to a transfer turret 82 (see Fig. 6) which is When the point B is reached, then the seammounted to rotate about a center 83. This ing roll is permitted to move away from the transfer turret moves the cans along the guide can end, and thisis brought about by means rail 84 in a curved path of travel, and depf a springfiiil and also by the roller 48 colivers the cans to the rotating turrets of the operating with the cam 49. seaming machine. Located between the ro- The cam 24 which raises and lowers the tating turrets and rotating with the upper support for the can, has a depressible porturret, is a member which is provided with tion 64 carried by a rockery65. v A spring half-molds 86. The transfer turret is pro- 66 normally holds this depressible portion vided with half-molds 87, and thus it is that raised. A rod 67- may be connectedto the the can is centered beneath the chuck of the n rocker for swinging thesame against the acseaming unit. tion of the spring 66, and thus the depressible The can ends are fed from a stack holder 88. portion may be lowered. When the turrets They are released one at a time by a can end are stopped with the can support directly over feeding mechanism which is driven from a this depressible portion, the depressible porshaft 89. WVhen the can ends are released, tion, through'the mechanism described, may they dropon to suitable supporting ledges be lowered, and this will lower the can, freeand 91 (see Fig. 7 They are moved ing the same fromthe chuck, so that it may along these supporting ledges by a rotating be removed from the machine for inspection. turret 92. This rotating turret is formed Theholding dog 68 serves to hold the dewith a series of segmental pockets 931which pressible portion of the cam in raised posiserve to center the can ends over the can tion during the normal operation of the mabodies and also serve to cooperate with the chine. I transfer turret 82 in rounding up the can The vertical shaft 14 carries a gear 69. body. As clearly shown in Fig. 7, the portion This gear meshes with a gear 70 on the of the segmental pocket in the turret 92 counter-shaft 71. This counter-shaft is which engages the can, engages said can bemounted in suitable bearings in the upper neath the flange therein. The same is true of frame. The counter-shaft carries 'a gear 72 the segmental pockets 82 in the transfer turwhich in turn meshes with a gear 73 rigidly ret .82. The can-ends are moved along the attached to the upper turret. Thus it is that supports 90 and 91 by means of lugs 94. At the shaft 14 imparts rotation to the upper the inner side of the ledge 91 there is a cam turretand the speed of rotation of the upper face 95. This can ledge is so shaped that it turret is greatly reduced over that impartedv gradually forces the can end outwardly rato the chuck spindles which rotate the cans. dially of the turret 92, and places the can end Also meshing with this gear 73 -is a gear over the can body while it is moving in a 7 4 carried by a vertical counter-shaft 75. straight line path of travel along the support This counter-shaft is mounted. in suitable 79. The supporting ledge 90 is cut away at bearings in the upper frame. Mounted on 90, and the supporting ledge 91'is similarly the counter-shaft 75 at the lower end thereof cut away, so that when the can end reaches is a sleeve 76. The sleeve is splined to the the position where it is diiectly over the counter-shaft. This sleeve is journaled in traveling can body to which it is to be atthe lower frame and carries a gear 77 which tached, it will drop on to the can body. At meshes with a gear 78 carried by the lower this time, the pockets of the turrets 92 and 82 turret. By the mechanism described, both are moving into engagement with the can the upper and lower turrets are positively body, rounding up the same, and they also driven from the shaft 14,-and they are driven center the can end over the can body. The

by this vertical shaft which is located outside can body and can end thus positioned, have a of the turrets, Through this arrangement, short straight path of travel before the can body starts on its curved path of travel along the guide 84.

While this can end and can body are moving through this straight path of travel after they have been assembled, and the end dropped on to the can body, a'seating pad or member engages the can end and forces the can end into the can body. This means for seating the can ends is shown in Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings. There are three seating pads 96 which come into operation in succession. and only one pad operating upon a single can- Each seating pad is carried by a shaft 97 The shaft 97 is journaled in a rotating disk 98. The shaft 97 carries a crank arm 99 which is provided with a crank. and this crank, in turn, is mounted in a rotatable disk 100. The disk 98 is driven by means of a gear 101 which meshes with a gear 102 carried by a vertical shaft 103 which supports the turret '92. This shaft 103 is journaled in the lower frame, and carries a gear 104 which meshes with a gear 105 carried by a shaft 106. ,The shaft 106 carriesthe transfer turret 82. The gear 105 meshes with a gear 107 which is attached to the lower turret. As the lower turret rotates, it rotates the shaft 106, which rotates in turn the transfer turret, and it rotates the shaft 103whi'ch rotates in turn the can end turret. At the same time, this shaft 103 rotates the disk 98, and this will cause the seating pads to move bodily in a curved path of travel, always remaining in the same horizontal position relative to the supporting shaft on which the seating pad is carried. In other words, the seating pad comes down into engagement with the can end, forcing it into the can body, and then moves out of contact with the can end, traveling in the vertical plane containing the straight line path of travel of the can body and can end. This seating pad holds the can end seated in the can body while the can is traveling forward until the end has moved underneath the seating plate 108. The seating plate 108 iscurved to conform to the path of travel of the can as it is moved along the guide rail 84 by the rotating transfer turret 82. The i'eceivin curved as indicated at 109, and it is the point 110 that first engages the can end and holds it seated on the can body.. -VVhile the can is movingforward to position the end underneath this portion 110 of the seating plate 108, it is held seatedby the seating pad. The cut away portion at the receiving end of the seating plate is to give clearance for the movement of the seating pad. It is to be understood. however, that the can end is placed on the can body and positively seated therein by. the seating pad, and while it is held full seated in the can body, the can end and can body move under this seating plate, which holds the can end seated as it moves end of this plate 108 is along its curved path of travel. By this arrangement, the can end is so firmly seated on the can body while it is moving along its straight path of travel, that there is little or no spill incident to the changing of the direction of movement of the can bodyinto a curved path of travel.

The opposite end 111 of the seating plate is likewise curved slightly, and terminates at a point so that. the can and seated can end may be raised into engagement with the chuck of the seaming unit.

The feed drum is carried by the shaft which is journaled in the lower frame, and said drum is provided with a bevel gear 112 which meshes with a bevel gear 113 carried by a counter shaft 114. This counter shaft 114 carries a gear 115 which meshes with a gear 116 carried by the shaft 103. Located alongside of the drum is a movable plate 117 carried by a shaft 118. lVhen the can body moves along the drum, it will engage the plate 117 and swing the plate, and this will oscillate the shaft 118. The shaft 118 carries an arm 119 which is connected by means of a'link 120 to an arm 121 carried by the shaft 122. The shaft 122 carries an arm 123 which is moved into and out of the path of travel of the dog 124. This dog 124 is carried by the lower section of the shaft 89, and

serves to engage the lug 125, when swunginward, so as tocouple the two sections of the shaft together. This mechanism forms no part of the present invention. It is for the purpose of feeding a can end only when a can body to which it is to be attached has been fed into the machine. After the can ends have been double seamed to the can bodies, they are forcibly ejected from the chuck when the support is lowered, by means of an ejecting pad carried by a rod 126 which cooperates with a stationary cam 127. After the cans have been forcibly stripped from the chucks, they are removed from the machine by means of a guiding rail 128 which is formed as a part of the guiding rail 108. A rotating take-away turret 129 is mounted at the upper end of a shaft 130 which carries a gear 131. This gear meshes with a gear 132 carried by a counter shaft 133. The counter shaft carries a gear 134 which irgturn meshes with a gear 135. 'The gear 135" meshes with the gear 78 of the lower rotating turret. It will be apparent from Fig. 6 of the drawings that this guiding rail 128 moves the closed can off from this traveling support into the pocket of the take-away turret, and the take-away turret then engages the can body and conveys it out of the machine into a suitable runway therefor. This take-away turret is adjustably connected to its operating shaft and is so disposed relative to the center of rotation of the seaming machine that the closed cans may be quickly removed from the machine and at a point very near to the point. Where the cans pass into the seaming machine to the seaming units. g

It is thought that'the operation of the machine will be clear from the details of the description which has beenvgiven above. The filled cans, when the machine is used for closing filled cans, are fed one at a time along a straight path of travel. A can end is placed overthe filled can and dropped on to the same. It is centered relative to the filled can and positively seated on the filled can while this filled can is in its straight path of travel. body as thecan body moves in its curved path of travel through the aid of the transfer turret into the seaming machine. The can body With the can end seated therein is centered beneath the traveling seaming unit, is chucked, and the seaming rolls, one after another, are moved into contact with the can end for forming the seaming operation. After the can is closed, it is positively stripped from the chuck as the support for the can is lowered, and the take-away devices remove the closed cans from the machine.

' It will be understood that the machine may be used for attaching can'ends to can bodies in the formation of the can as well as for closing a can. It will be understood also that the seaming units 'may be changed as to construction, from certain aspects of the invention, and it will also be understood that the means for seating the can ends in the can bodies and feeding the same to the seamingunits may alsolbe varied from other aspects of the invention. It will further be understood that various changes in the details .of construction and the arrangement of the while it is traveling in the straight path of travel and for positively and firmly seating the end in thecan body, and means for holding the "can, end seated-in the can body while on it's curved path of travel until engaged by the chuck of the seaming unit.

2. The combination of a plurality of seamingunits traveling in a circular path, each including a chuck, a feeding mechanism for feeding canbodies in a-straight line and then in a curved path to the seaming units, means for feeding a can end ina straight path over the can body while said can body is traveling in a straight path, means for positively and It is held seated on the filledcan,

the seaming unit.-

'firmly seating the end in the can" body, and

ing can bodies in a straight line and then in a a curved path beneath the chuck of the seaming unit, and means for placing a can end on a can body and for positively and firmly seating the end in the can body in its straight path of travel.

' 4. The combination of rotating turrets, a

plurality of seaming units mounted in said rotating turrets and traveling therewith, each seaming unit including a' chuck and seaming rolls, a feeding mechanism for feeding can bodies in a straight line and then in a curved path beneath the chuck of the seaming unit,

means for placing a can end on a can body and for positively and firmly seating the end in the can body in its straight path of travel, and means for holding a can end seated in the can body until engaged by the chuck of 5. The combination of .a plurality of scaming units traveling in a circular path, a feeding mechanism for feeding can bodles in a straight line and then in a curved path to the seaming units, means for placing a can end over the can body, and means forengaging the can end and seating the same in the can .body while the can body is moving in a portion of the straight line path of travel, said last-named means including a series of pads mounted for bodily travel in a 'circular path in a vertical plane and positioned so as to engage the can end and force the same into the can body while moving in the direction of travel of the can body.

6. The combination of a plurality of seam; ing units traveling in a circular path, a feeding mechanism for feeding can bodies to the seaming units including a rotating turret and devices for moving the can bodies in a straight line of travel into said rotating turret, means for placing a can end on the can body, and means. for seating the can end in the can body While moving through apor tion of its straight line of travel.

7. The combination of a plurality of S03111- ing units traveling in a circular path, a feed ing mechanism for feeding can bodies to the seaming units including a rotatlng turret and devices for moving the can bodies in a straight line of travel into said rotating turret, means for placing a can end on the can body; means for seating the can end in the can body While moving through a portion of its straight line of travel, and means for hold- .ing a' can end seated in the can body While the same is moved by the turret to the seaming unit. 1

8. The combination of a plurality of seaming units traveling in a circular path, a feeding mechanism for feeding can bodies to the seaming units including a rotating turret having a series of half-molds for receiving and placing the can bodies in the seaming units. a feed drum. a support having a guide rail along which the can bodies are moved by the drum into the half-molds of the turret. means for placing a can end on a can body. and means located above the path of travel of the can bodies for engaging the ends and firmly seating the same in the can bodies while said can bodies are still on a straight line of travel.

9. The combination of a plurality of seaming units traveling in a circular path. a feeding mechanism for feeding can bodies to the seaming units including a rotating turret having a series of half-molds for receiving and placing the can bodies in the seaming units. a feed drum. a support having a guide rail along which the can bodies are moved by the drum into the half-molds of the turret, means for placing a can end on the can body, means located above the path of travel of the can bodies for engaging the ends and firmly.

seating the same in the can bodies while said can bodies are still on astraight lme of travel, and a curved presser plate for engagmg the can ends and holding the same seated in the can bodies until the can bodies are delivered to the seaming units.

10. The combination with a lower frame, an upper frame, a rotating turret mounted in the lower frame. a cooperating rotating turret mounted in the upper frame. seaming units carried by said rotating turrets, columns located outside of said turrets in said lower frame and supporting said upper frame. and means located outside of said turrets for positively connecting said turrets for rotation.

11. The combination with a lower frame, an upper frame. a rotating turret mounted in the lower frame, acooperating rotating turret mounted in the upper frame. seaming units carried by said rotating turrets, columns located outside of said turrets in said lower frame and supporting said upper frame. means located outside of said turrets for positively connecting said turrets for rotation. and means whereby the turret in the upper frame may be raised'and lowered relative to the turret in the lower frame.

1'2. The combination with'a lower frame. an upper frame. a rotating turret mounted in the lower frame. a cooperating rotating turret mounted in the upper frame. seaming units carried by said rotating turrets. coluninslocated outside of said turrets in said lower frame and supporting said upper frame. means located outside of said turrets for positively connecting said turrets for rotation, a center stationary standard carried by the lower frame and supporting the turret in the upper frame, and means for raising and lowering said standard.

13. The combination with a plurality of seaming units traveling in a circular path, each seaming unit including a chuck. a lever pivoted intermediate its ends. a first-opera tion seaming roll at one end of said lever, and a second-operation seaming roll at the other end of said lever, a stationary circular cam, a roller carried-by the seaming lever and en gaging said stationary cam for oscillating the same to move the first-operation roll into engagement with the parts to be seamed. a stationary yielding circular cam. and a roller carried by said seaming lever cooperating with said yielding circular cam for oscillating the lever to move thesecond-operation roll into contact with the parts to be seamed.

14. The combination with a plurality of seaming units traveling in a circular path.

each' seaming unit:- including a chuck, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, a first-operation seaming roll at one end of said lever and a second-operation seaming roll at the other end of said lever, a stationary circular cam, a roller carried by the seaming lever and engagingsaid stationary cam for oscillating the same to move the first-operation roll into engagement with the parts to be seamed. a stationary yielding circular cam, a roller carried by saidseaming lever cooperating with said yielding circular cam for oscillating the lever to move the second-operation roll into contact with the parts to be seamed, and means whereby the positions of the seaming rolls on the seaminglever may beshifted.

15. The combination of a main frame, alower turret mounted in said main frame, an upper turret mounted in said frame, means for rotating said turrets, said upper turret having a plurality of seaming unit's, said lower turret having a support for a can body associated with each seaming unit. a cam track for raising the support to lift a can thereon into the seaming unit, said cam track having a depressible section, whereby the machine may be stopped at a predetermined point and the track lowered so as to remove the can from the seaming unit, said depressible section being positioned so that the can maybe removed from the machine between the first and second seaming operations there on.

16. The combination of a. frame, a lower turret mounted therein, an u per turret mounted in said frame. means or rotating said turrets. seaming units carried by said upper turret, a support for the cans associated with each seaming unit and carried by the lower turret, said support including a cylindrical body portion, a plate mounted thereon for rotation, means for yieldingly "n Lu supporting said plate on said body portion,

and means for raising said cylindrical body portion to lift the can thereon into the seam- Q ing unit. f

17. The combination of a supporting frame,

upper and lower rotating turrets mounted therein; means for connecting said turrets for positive rotation, a main driving shaft at the upper end of said frame, a central vertical shaft operated thereby,.a gear rotating a with said shaft, a counter-shaft operated by said gear and connected to said upper turret for rotating the same, a plurality of seaming units mounted in said upper turret, each seaming unit including a chuck, a spindle carrying said chuck, a gear on said spindle,

and agear on the Vertical shaft adapted to I mesh with the gears on the chuck spindles for rotating the same. In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature. v I JOHN COYLE. 

